Oh hell or contract whist is a trick-taking card game of British origin in which the object is to take exactly the number of tricks bid.

David Parlett gives other names: blackout, bust, elevator and jungle bridge;[5] while John McLeod adds blob, so called because the player's predicted bid is overwritten with a black blob if not achieved.

[4] The game explores the idea of taking an exact number of tricks specified by a bid after the deal.

Prominent players of the game include former United States President Bill Clinton, who learned it from film director Steven Spielberg.

[7] The game was introduced into the United States very shortly after appearing in Britain and was first recorded in the New York clubs in 1931.

Nomination Whist is a British variant in which cards are dealt in descending and ascending (⇘⇗) sequence.

Oh Pshaw is an American name for the variant in which cards are dealt in ascending (⇗) sequence only (although Parlett describes a similar game as 'British Oh Hell').

Finally, the game as described below is a variant popular worldwide in which cards are also dealt in descending and ascending sequence (⇘⇗).

Deal, bidding and play are clockwise, always beginning with eldest hand, the player to the left of the dealer.

The aim is to score the most points by correctly bidding the number of tricks you will take.

During play, eldest leads to the first trick and players must follow suit if able; otherwise they may trump or discard as they wish.

well" as "one of the best round games", not only appealing to expert players, but also to beginners and youngsters because of the simplicity of its rules, which are as above with the following additional details:[3] If three play, the bottom card of the pack is removed and set aside face down.

In addition, any player who takes his bid number of tricks scores a bonus of 10 points.

If played for stakes, players pay the differences in their points converted into money at the agreed rate.

The following rules are based on Arnold (2011):[9] Cards are dealt and the first one to receive a jack becomes the first dealer.

[10][11] Oh Pshaw is an American variant recorded by Bicycle, who describe it as "an amusing game" with a worldwide following.

Oh Pshaw as described by Bicycle is almost identical with another ascending only (⇗) variant that Parlett calls British oh hell!

In the game as described by John McLeod at pagat.com, players draw for the first deal, the highest card winning.

[4] Again, in this variant, the dealer is constrained to ensure that the total of the bids is not equal to the number of tricks in that deal.